Bahama Woodstar
(Calliphlox evelynae)

Bahama Woodstar (Calliphlox evelynae) is a species of hummingbird.

The Bahama Woodstar is a medium-sized hummingbird, growing to be about 3 to 5 inches in length. They are green above with mixed olive-buff underparts. Bills on both the male and female are slightly decurved. Males show a reddish-pink throat is lined by a white collar during breeding season. After breeding season is over, he loses the colorful throat thich turns to a pale gray color of eclipse plumage. Females are much more drab in color. Tails on male birds are deeply forked, females are much more rounded.

The Bahama Woodstar is common to the Bahama Islands. They are found in many different habitats on all the islands. There are 2 subspecies-lyrura inhabits Inagua Island, and evelynae is found on all remaining islands.

Nesting is done in a small cup made of plant down, bark and cobwebs. The female lays 2 elliptical white eggs, which will incubate for 15-18 days. This hummingbird nests all year round. It does not migrate, but has been seen as a vagrant in SE Florida in the United States.

Image from Birds of the World on Postage Stamps http://www.bird-stamps.org/